Sanders and sanding

[Lonsdale73]

Think I need a new sander, the backing pad has perished and new sandpaper shreds in seconds so what do I go for. Is air powered more efficient than electric? Do I go belt, disc or sheet? And sandpaper - is it even sand any more? Back at school we had a choice of coarse medium or fine, now there are grades (0., 1, 11/2?) or grits (40, 80 - think I even saw a 2000?) Need will be mostly picture frames, small boxes / drawers possibly small cabinets depending on how skills develop!

 

[AndyT]

I recommend getting an Abranet hand sanding pad. It comes with a hose which you attach to your vacuum cleaner and an assortment of different grades of open mesh abrasive. All the dust goes up the hose and the mesh stays unclogged. Very efficient and not much work to do by hand.

Search on here for Abranet to find many more satisfied customers.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Looks interesting. How long do the nets last compared to regular sand paper? Just wondering how it compares cost wise.

 

[Alexam]

They last almost indefinately I have the Abranet and would never go back to sandpapers. Go for it, you wont be sorry.

Alex

 

[Monkey Mark]

It looks like a great little system. Will have to consider this one.

 

[AndyT]

It looks like a great little system. Will have to consider this one.

If you were making huge amounts or prepping paint all day long then I think you would need a power sander but for small stuff I really do think it provides all you need and feels like the right middle way between a bit of paper round a block and something with a motor in. I've found it economical, quick and entirely dust free.

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

And I can vouch for the abranet stuff on an ROS as well. Transformed my Axminster cheapie into a very usable tool.

 

[Lonsdale73]

I meant to ask where Abranet fits in the scheme of things, I saw a reference to it in a thread on finishes and finishing, by Alexam I believe

 

[Monkey Mark]

If using the abranet on a ROS, does it go straight on or do you need some other pad in between?

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

It can go straight onto mine, but I got a pad saver anyways.

 

[marcros]

it will go straight on, but I would use a pad saver, because i have had to replace the pad on mine, and the saver is a much cheaper option to replace.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Right, cheers. Now to decide which budget sander to get as mine has just literally fallen apart.

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Sir would look very good indeed with a Mirka DEROS.

Only about ten times as much money as my Axminster was. One day...